Journal · 177 notes
Stones & grading
Written for buyers rather than for search engines: what a specification actually means, where an order usually goes wrong, and what to ask before you pay a deposit.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
925 Sterling Silver vs Fine Silver
925 sterling silver vs fine silver: compare purity, hardness, tarnish, durability, price, and hallmarks to know which silver jewelry lasts longer.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Moissanite Fire and Brilliance
What is moissanite fire? Learn how moissanite dispersion compares to diamond, why it flashes rainbow, and how cut and color grade affect its sparkle.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
How Facet Angles Drive Brilliance: The Optics Explained Simply
An atelier explains cut angles, table percentages, and why a well-cut stone out-sparkles a larger poorly cut one, in plain language.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Morganite: The Blushing Pink Gemstone, Bench-Tested
Morganite's soft pink blush pairs beautifully with rose gold. Here is what we look for at the bench in color, durability, and daily care.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Peridot Gemstone Guide: Properties, Color, and Jewelry Wear
Peridot is the August birthstone with a distinctive olive-green hue. Learn its properties, origins, value factors, and how to wear and care for it.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Kunzite: Beautiful Pink, but Not for the Reckless
Kunzite is the pink-to-violet spodumene collectors love — but it fades and cleaves. Here is the honest bench-side take.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Apatite: The Neon Blue Stone That Is Not Tourmaline
Neon blue apatite is brighter than paraiba at a fraction of the price. We cover its softness, heat sensitivity, and how to set it.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
The Mohs Hardness Scale and What It Means for Everyday Wear
An atelier explains the Mohs hardness scale, which gemstones survive daily ring wear, and which belong on a necklace or an occasion piece.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
How a Jewelry Factory Controls Gold Karat from Alloy to Finished Ring
Underkarating is the hidden risk in cheap gold. Here is how a responsible factory alloys, tracks, and verifies karat at every stage of production.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Anyolite (Ruby-in-Zoisite): The Green-and-Red Tanzanian Gem
What anyolite is, where it comes from, how it is cut and set, and how to care for ruby-in-zoisite pieces from our bench.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Garnet Gemstone Guide: Colors, Properties and Value
A bench-side guide to garnet: the red January birthstone, its species (pyrope, tsavorite, demantoid), hardness, treatments and how to buy.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
What GRA Certification Actually Means (and What It Does Not)
A moissanite buyer honest guide to GRA certification: what the paper says, what it guarantees, and how it differs from a diamond grading report.